Since becoming a parent, I've learned there is a whole 'nother side to common words and phrases. For example, "Some assembly required" will cause most grown men to curse, drink excessively, and display violent acts of frustration on unsuspecting walls, counter tops, and whatever object has the misfortune of being in reach (oh, happy Christmas...). Likewise, for me, "carseat installation" almost instantaneously brings about a migraine and slight nausea. I've learned to work through the feeling of dread that pervades my body when I know I'm going to have to fight with the damn thing, even if it takes me all afternoon, but man, that carseat is going to one day meet the same untimely end as the baby monitor.

However, the phrase that is feared by not only me, but most parents I know, is...

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS.

If you are not a parent, you are probably like, "Huh? She's lost me again." And if you are a parent...well, this has been on your mind since the last time we switched our clocks around. And if you didn't have a baby when we changed time (back in March), well, welcome to hell.

Remember when gaining an hour was like a gift? Like on Sunday morning, you realized that it wasn't 10:15am, it was actually 9:15am and...score! You pulled the comforter up around your chin, snuggled in, and smiled with pure bliss that you just gained an extra hour on Sunday Funday. Waffles for breakfast, or should we go out?

But...it's not the case for parents. Sadly, it's something most parents have been thinking and stressing for about six weeks now. This has been the main topic of conversations with my girlfriends. I've received emails about it from other friends, asking how we handled it in the past. Because...your little cute baby, the one you worked so hard with to put on a schedule? Guess what? Daylight savings is now going to make your child's wake-up time shift from an okay-but-blah 6am to a dreaded-this-is-unimaginable-5am. Everyday. For the next several days.

Naps, wake-up times, bedtimes...they are all affected by Daylight Savings. It's like the tsunami of parental sleep problems.

The worst, obviously, will be Sunday morning. Because kids don't know the time switched; they just continue to do what they do. But Mom and Dad know, and getting up (and consequently losing) that hour of sleep (after how many months of other forms of sleep loss) is simply unacceptable. And please know, parents are so sleep-deprived to begin with, taking away a full 60 minutes is equivalent to torture. Like, ripping-out-your-fingernails-torture.

I know there are places in the US where they do not change their clocks. I lived in one such place: Bloomington, Indiana. While I found it odd and creepy at the time, now I believe it's brilliant. It also explains why there were so many people with babies and toddlers living within the city; I'm sure they flocked there for the simple reason that they never have to adjust their child's sleep schedule. It could really be Bloomington's tagline; it would be the most desirably place to live in America! Think about it: "Never Change your Clocks: Bloomington, Indiana." Is someone calling the Chamber of Commerce?

Back to the issue at hand. How to handle it? I have no idea. I can tell you what we're doing: we flew my early-rising mother out who is still on Chicago time, meaning our 6am is her 8am, to take care of this for us. Combine this with missing her grandchild and wanting to spend more time with him, and bam! You have a recipe for the perfect way to cope with Daylight Savings. In fact, Brian and I are planning to get EXTRA sleep on Sunday morning while Grandma plays with Scotty. Really, it's win-win.

I've heard from others on how they are planning to deal with the time change. One friend, who will remain nameless, is actually going out of town (and leaving the kids with her husband.) He doesn't it know it yet, but Sunday is going to REALLY suck for him. Another friend mentioned she is pushing her daughter's bedtime back 15 minutes each day in anticipation for Sunday; noble, well-planned, but not a guarantee.

So, good luck to all your parents on Sunday. Unless you are fortunate to live in one of those blessed cities that doesn't have to deal with this craziness, hang in there, preset the coffee maker on Saturday night, and be ready to be up with the tweety birds. I'll be thinking of you as I snuggle deeper into my cozy bed. :-)